California Beetle Spotted in the Grass in Plainsboro, NJ

Challenge

During a regularly scheduled Home Protection Plan service of this home in Plainsboro, NJ, we found something interesting in the grass - a California beetle! Like other beetles in the beetle genus Prionus, the California Root Borer resembles its relatives, especially its 'cousin' in the east, the Broad-necked Root Borer. Both have long, serrated antennae and 3 points on each side of the pronotum. Females have thinner antennae than males, who have more pronounced 'serrations'. This species has a reddish-brown coloring, but some individuals may appear black. Three, well-formed spikes project out of each side of its pronotum, the 'neck' area. Its elytra (wing coverings) have a fine texture to them, giving them a matte sheen when viewed in the daytime, but they are more active at night when males seek out females for mating.

They are often seen walking around the ground in forested areas. The larvae of this type of beetle live underground where they eat through, and into, the roots of a variety of deciduous trees, hence the common name. They have also been found eating roots from shrubs, vines and even rotting wood above ground. They may stay in this young phase of life for a few years before moving onto the pupa and then the adult form. Because of their diet, this type of beetle is considered a pest in orchards and vineyards where feeding activity can impact tree health and fruit harvest.

Solution

We treated the California beetle with a liquid residual application. This product will rapidly exterminate the pest.